Charity

I wrap up the day every night by reading to my daughter as sleep envelopes her. As sleep descends, I look at her placid face, calm & serene, sleeping without a care in the world. This picture of comfort is so different to the one I see in the little urchin’s face who’s barely 4 yrs. He meets me everyday at the junction of a particular traffic signal. Recognizing my car he comes bounding for a chocolate treat everyday.

My daughters seldom fond of sweetmeats but loves to stash them. I stealthily raid her treasure cove where she hides her booty gifted to her by my friends & give away one each day to this ever waiting urchin boy.

He’s not alone on the streets. Many like him roam the streets of India, aimlessly being violated by the police, adult beggars, local henchmen…the likes. Every time I set my eyes on a beggar child, I pray to God to watch over him / her.

Looking at the “have-nots” makes me humble. I remember in my earlier days, I used to snigger at my maternal granddad giving alms to the poor, distributing woollies in the winter. He used to try & imbibe in me the spirit of charity & compassion for the poor, which I would laugh away. I have come a full circle today & see my child’s face in every urchin roaming the streets. Granddad used to say “ A little charitys not going to make a deep hole in one’s pocket”

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